Starting outboard motor

[Steve E.]

On my 23.5, I have a small Honda 5HP motor that works very well. We are not going to win the poker run, but it works for us. I can start it usually with one pull. The problem I have is that my wife and crew (kids) do not have the strength to pull start it. Normally this isnt a problem, as I am the one on the motor, until I am knocked overboard and panic sets in about how to get me back on board. This hasn't happened yet, but it is in the back of my mind. I am working on teaching them how to come back under sail and get me, but the transfer of knowledge is slow.So, the question I pose to the group is this.....Is there a way to hook up an electric start button, key, etc that the "bigger boats" have on a small outboard? If not, is there a way to lessen the pulling strength needed to pull start the motor?Worst case is I have instructed the crew on how to drop the sails and hopefully I am not incapacitated and can swim back to the boat.Thanks!

 

[Brian M H23]

Devil's advocate

But, here's my question: If they do not have the strength to pull start a small, one cylinder engine, do you expect them to be able to hoist a grown man aboard the ship?

 

[Steve O.]

electric start

I beleive you would have to buy a new OB with elec start.I have a Evinrude 8hp on my dingy and my wife and girls could always pull start it. It's a 2 cycle so maybe they are easier than Honda 5 hp.

 

[KennyH]

Why not easy they should learn.

While my 9.9 is hard to pull also I am sure it could be started by my wife in a problem situation. VHF is always an option but I dont' like to count on others. If it really is that hard to pull get yourself another motor maybe electric start is the way to go. Good you are thinking ahead on this one.

 

[Benny17441]

The average woman weighs over 110 lbs

and it does not take half that force to pull start a 5HP outboard. Your wife needs to learn how to use her weight to start the engine. All you need to do is stand with the feet apart, one in front of the other along the direction of pull. Then grab the pull start and shift your weight from the foot in front to the foot in back while also pulling with your arms. Pulling force and pulling speed are required. The first couple of times she may overdo it and loose her balance but she will quickly learn to compensate. Have her practice at the dock and if one of the kids is old enough have him/her learn too.

 

[Steve Dion]

More technique than strength.

Steve:I think that the issue is more technique than strength. I watch kids start these motor bikes & lawn mowers with little trouble.My wife starts our 15HP 2cycle Tohatsu when she needs to.

 

[Manny]

Steve E, I feel your pain

I keep trying to get my wife to learn how to start our Honda 8hp 4 stroke outboard, but she never seems to be able to pull the cord fast enough. It is very easy to start without much effort. Hopefully soon we'll figure out a solution, maybe an extension on the starter cord to give her a better angle to pull. Otherwise I hope in an emergency situation she would have enough adrenalin going to get it started...I just can't afford a long shaft electric start outboard right now Manny

 

[Lamar Sumerlin]

Steve Dion has the answer - starting technique

Hi Steve E,As the other Steve says, I think technique is the answer. I teach sailing part time and find that most very petite young women can start a 4 to 5 hp as long as they go about it the correct way. Some of these young women are somewhat intimidated by the idea of cranking the engine but after the engine cranks, their concerns seem to go away. This is what works for me. The idea is to have an understanding about what is happening with the pulling of the starting cord. Some want to just approach the engine and want start pulling away for dear life on the starting cord without any idea of what is going on within the engine. What one wants to accomplish is to get the piston up near top dead center within the cyclinder compressing the fuel/air mixture and then give it a big pull to get it going on the ignition stroke. After pressing the priming bulb until it is hard and pulling the manual choke out with a cold engine ---- with the engines I use, starting is accomplished by "two short pulls followed by one long pull". In other words, give the cord a short pull until one feels resistance and then stop, then let the cord back in and pull a second short pull until resistance is felt and then stop. The first two pulls on the cord require very little strength. On the third pull, I encourage them to pull the cord as hard as they can to achieve the ignition stroke. If this doesn't work the first time, repeat it for a second sequence. It the engine still doesn't crank, push the choke off and try a third sequence. Most of the time the engine cranks on the second or third sequence if it doesn't crank the first time. Try this and see how it comes out.Good luck!Lamar

 

[crazy dave condon]

additional imput

Most small engines cannot be started other than pulling unless you have an electic start that generally will not be seen until you get into a 8 hp or larger. Then there is the possibilty that can be done. No on a 5 hp. I do not recommend anything over 10 hp on any traileable.